Beaches North of Boston

July 25, 2016

Planning a trip to the North of Boston area? It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t visit at least one of our beautiful beaches. Whether it’s on the ocean or a lake our beaches are a top destination for tourists and locals alike.

Back Beach, Rockport

Black and White Beaches, Manchester-by-the-Sea

On Ocean Street, off Route 127. Resident parking only. No lifeguards or restrooms.

Brackenbury Beach, Beverly

Brackenbury Lane off Hale Street (Route 127). Small beach with boat ramp. No lifeguards. No parking. Dogs on leashes allowed before 8 AM and after 7:30 PM between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Cape Hedge Beach, Rockport

South Street. Limited parking for visitors. Parking stickers are required.

Chebacco Lake, Essex

Off Western Avenue (Route 22) in Centennial Grove, fresh water swimming.

Clammer’s Beach, Essex

Conomo Point Road. Parking is by sticker, available to Essex residents. No bathhouse or snack bar.

Collins Cove Beach, Salem

Collins Street. On-street parking. Lifeguard on duty during high tide.

Crane Beach, Ipswich

At the end of Argilla Road. Open daily year-round from 8 AM to sunset. Non-residential parking fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day is $20 per car on weekends and holidays and $15 on weekdays. Motorcycles are charged $4. Those arriving by bicycle or foot pay $2 anytime. All fees are half-price after 3 PM. Annual memberships are available starting at $40. Ipswich residents can obtain beach stickers at Ipswich Town Hall. Lifeguards, rangers, bathhouses, outside showers, picnic tables, Crane Beach store, information kiosk, transportation for physically challenged visitors. Greenhead fly season is late July early August. Owned by the Trustees of Reservations.

Dane Street Beach, Beverly

Lothrop Street, off Route 127. Limited on-street parking. Lifeguard on duty 10 AM to 5 PM. Kids’ play area. Bathhouse opens June through August. Dogs on leashes allowed before 8 AM and after 7:30 PM between Memorial and Labor Day.

Devereux Beach, Marblehead

On Ocean Avenue. Parking for nonresidents is $5, on both weekdays and weekends. Annual parking stickers available to residents for $25 at the town treasurer’s office or the transfer station. Lifeguards on duty Wednesday through Sunday. Restrooms and concession stand available. Dogs prohibited May through September.

Fisherman’s Beach, Swampscott

Humphrey Street, farther north. Fish house and docks. Some swimming but no lifeguard. Some parking on Humphrey Street. Residents can obtain $12 parking permits ($6 for senior citizens) from Recreation Department Office.

Forest River Park, Salem

Off Clinton Avenue. Two beaches. Fresh-water swimming pool for residents only from 11 AM to 5 PM. Park is closed to non-residents on weekends and holidays. Parking is free for residents. Parking for non-residents is $10 per vehicle, $20 per van and $100 per bus. Lifeguards, restrooms, bathhouse and playground. Dogs prohibited without a leash.

Front Beach, Rockport

On Beach Street. Toilet facilities but no bathhouses. Limited parking for visitors. Parking stickers are required.

Niles Beach, Gloucester

Located on Eastern Point Road. Parking is available for residents only, summer residents with stickers, or tourists with motel courtesy stickers.

Obear Park, Beverly

Off Kernwood Avenue and Upland Road, on the Danvers River in the Ryal Side neighborhood. Kids’ play area. Parking is free. No lifeguard. Dogs on leashes allowed before 8 AM and after 7:30 PM between Memorial and Labor Day.

Old Garden Beach, Rockport

Off Old Garden Road. Limited parking for visitors. Parking stickers are required.

Pavilion Beach, Ipswich

At the end of Jeffreys Neck Road. Limited free parking. No lifeguards. No bathhouse or restrooms. Greenhead fly season early to mid-August. Dogs prohibited Memorial to Labor Day.

Phillips Beach, Swampscott

Pleasant View Beach, Beverly

Porter Street on the Bass River in the Goat Hill neighborhood. Limited parking. No lifeguard. Dogs on leashes allowed before 8 AM and after 7:30 PM between Memorial and Labor Day.

Plum Cove Beach, Gloucester

Located on Washington Street. Parking is available for residents only, summer residents with stickers, or tourists with motel courtesy stickers.

Plum

Island, Newburyport

4,600 acres of wildlife trails, fresh water marshes and miles of quiet roadway will remain open year round. Take a long walk, jog or ride your bicycle down the refuge’s six miles of roadway. Parking lot 1, the largest lot inside the refuge gate, also offers restroom for all visitors. Visitors can wander the winding paths of Hellcat trails. The two trails run off parking lot 4. Two restrooms, which are accessible to visitors with handicaps, also stand nearby. The refuge charges $5 for cars, trucks and motorcycles, $2 for bicycles and pedestrians over 16 and free for those younger. A $15 Duck Stamp can be purchased for unlimited entry after July 1 to national wildlife refuges for a year from that date.

Preston Beach, Swampscott

Rice’s Beach, Beverly

Off Ober Street next to Lynch Park. Parking available at Lynch Park. Lifeguard on duty from 10 AM to 5 PM. Dogs on leashes allowed before 8 AM and after 7:30 PM between Memorial and Labor Day.

Salem Willows Park, Salem

Off Fort Avenue. Two sandy beaches. Free on-street parking and parking lot. Restrooms, play area and concession stands. Lifeguard on duty at high tide at Willows Beach. Dogs prohibited without a leash.

Salisbury Beach, Salisbury

Offers six miles of sandy beach arcades, batting cages, miniature golf courses, go-cart tracks, amusement parks and fast-food booths. Salisbury Beach State Reservation features a playground for children, nature trails and a ramp for boaters. Three modern bathhouses are open to the public, two of them featuring outdoor showers. All are handicap-accessible. Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 AM to 4:45 PM on the three-quarter mile of beach from the rocks near the Merrimack River to the Pavilion. Parking costs $7 per day, with season passes available for $35 for Massachusetts residents and $45 for non-residents.

Sandy Beach, Danvers

Off River Street on the Danvers River, directly across from John George Park. Free Parking, restrooms available to the handicapped, outside shower, play area. Lifeguard on duty three hours before and after high tide from June 21 to Labor Day.

Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea

At the end of Beach Street. Parking at beach for residents only, but non-residents can park, for a fee, at a private parking lot a half-mile away. Lifeguard on duty on weekends starting Memorial Day weekend, then every day from mid-June until Labor Day. Food and restrooms available.

Cressy Beach and Half Moon Beach at Stage Fort Park, Gloucester

Hough Avenue at end of Route 133. Parking is $10 at all times. Small Beach with lifeguard, larger beach without lifeguard. Bathrooms, showers, concession stand.

Tuck’s Point, Manchester-by-the-Sea

Whale’s Beach and Eisman’s Beach, Swampscott

Both off Puritan Avenue. Parking lot for residents near both beaches, accessible by Humphrey Street. Both beaches have lifeguards. Residents can obtain $12 parking permits ($ for senior citizens) from Recreation Department Office.

White Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea

On Ocean Street, open to the public, but parking, with stickers, is for residents only.

Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester

Atlantic Road, off Route 133 and Concord Street, along Annisquam River and Ipswich Bay. Parking is $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends and holidays. Parking is limited so arrive early. Concession stand, rest rooms, showers.

Winter Island, Salem

Winter Island Road off Fort Avenue. Facilities for swimming, picnicking, RVs, camping and more. Bathhouse available. Camp store with sandwiches, ice cream, gifts and camping supplies. Parking free for Salem residents. Parking for non-residents is $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays. Boat launch is $5 or $150 for the season. Dogs prohibited without a leash. Function hall and picnic areas available for rentals.